Gold, Platinum, Silver: Charts & Purity Marks Explained

Precious metals are a rare class of metals prized for their unique qualities, such as their ability to create stunning jewelry. Eight metals are considered precious: gold, silver, and the six platinum group metals—palladium, platinum, osmium, iridium, ruthenium, and rhodium. Known as "noble metals," they are renowned for their exceptional luster and resistance to rust or corrosion, allowing them to maintain their original shine and beauty for generations.

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Gold has long been one of the most sought-after materials for jewelry and countless other purposes. Its radiant luster and rich color make it an exceptional choice for creating distinctive and enduring pieces that resist corrosion and tarnish. Over the years, gold has been used as a base for numerous intricate designs, often combined with other metals and elements to enhance its appeal and versatility.

However, gold’s malleability, which makes it incredibly easy to work with, can also be a drawback. Pure gold is too soft for most types of jewelry, as it can easily scratch or bend. To overcome this, gold is commonly alloyed with other metals like silver or copper, producing a more durable material suitable for everyday wear.

The purity of gold in these alloys is measured in karats (abbreviated as "k" or "kt"), with 24 karats representing pure gold. Lower karat ratings indicate a proportionally reduced percentage of gold content, providing a balance between beauty and durability.

Gold Purity Chart

• 24 Karat: 99.9% Pure
• 22 Karat: 91.7% Pure
• 18 Karat: 75% Pure
• 14 Karat: 58.3% Pure
• 12 Karat: 50% Pure
• 10 Karat: 41.7% Pure

Gold remains a timeless symbol of elegance and sophistication, cherished for its ability to create exquisite jewelry that lasts for generations.

Like gold, silver has long been cherished for its use in jewelry, admired for its versatility, luster, and rarity. However, in its pure state, silver is too soft to be practical for most jewelry pieces, as it is prone to scratching, bending, and other forms of damage. To address this, silver is typically alloyed with other metals, such as copper, to enhance its durability while retaining its beauty.

Unlike gold, silver is not measured in karats. Instead, jewelers use terms like "fine" and "sterling" to describe its purity levels.

Silver Purity Grades

• 800 Silver: Composed of 80% silver and 20% copper or another metal.
• 925 Sterling Silver: Contains at least 92.5% silver and no more than 7.5% of other metals, making it a standard for high-quality silver jewelry.
• 950 Sterling Silver: Contains at least 95% silver and no more than 5% of other metals, offering a slightly higher purity.
• Fine Silver: Composed of 99.9% silver, it is too soft for most jewelry applications. However, it is sometimes used as a thin coating over sterling silver to provide an extra shine.

Silver remains a popular choice for jewelry due to its timeless elegance and adaptability, offering a balance of beauty and practicality for countless designs.

The six metals in the platinum family—platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, osmium, and ruthenium—are among the rarest and most valuable precious metals, often considered the finest. These silver-white metals are found worldwide and are typically alloyed with other metals, such as iridium, osmium, or nickel, to enhance their strength for use in jewelry.

Unlike gold, platinum is not measured in karats. Instead, it is stamped with a standardized quality mark to indicate its purity. For example, Pt1000 denotes pure platinum, while Pt95 (95% platinum) and Pt90 (90% platinum) are common marks on finished jewelry pieces.

Platinum is renowned for being the most durable, lustrous, and scratch-resistant of all precious metals. However, its rarity and cost make it less commonly used in jewelry compared to silver and gold. Additionally, artisans often prefer the flexibility of gold and silver, which are easier to shape into intricate designs.

Despite these challenges, platinum remains a symbol of luxury and elegance, prized for its unmatched resilience and brilliance.